Kendra stared at the port screen. She couldn’t believe she’d just been forced into sending a dinner date request to Faron.

Diadora sat on the other side of the desk, a smug look on her face. “This is the right thing to do. Your speed date with Faron was a success.”

“It wasn’t from where I sat,” Kendra said. “I didn’t expect to be paired with him. I wasn’t to know people would pay attention to us.”

Diadora raised a hand. “It’s not a problem. This is excellent for business. It’s what we need for our new campaign.”

“Campaign?” The worry in Kendra’s stomach continued to churn. What was she being sucked into?

The door slid open behind her. Kendra turned and saw Ivy walk in.

“Give me an update,” Diadora said.

“The reception for our blossoming relationship is positive. The polls suggest we should continue.” Ivy held a port screen in her hand.

“Whose relationship are we talking about?” Kendra asked.

“Yours,” Ivy said.

Kendra took a step back. “Who am I supposed to be in a relationship with?”

“It’s not hard to work out,” Diadora said. “You just sent a dinner invitation to Faron.”

The worry in Kendra’s gut turned into a gross, sick feeling. “Because you told me to.”

“Why did you obey me if you don’t want to date this alien?”

Kendra sucked in a breath. Talking back to Diadora was never a wise move. “I value my job. I’m going to obey you.”

“Wise words,” Diadora said. “Ivy, explain.”

Ivy smiled as she leaned against the desk. “We’ve been using footage from the speed dating event to show the public what they can expect from a My Single Alien experience. You noticed the camera bots last night.”

“They were hard to miss. They hovered over us.”

“They did.” Ivy grinned. “They captured magic. There were sparks between you and that hot alien. The public saw it and loved it. They want more.”

“More of what?”

“They want to see more of you and Faron in action.”

“Wait a second! When I sent that message to Faron, Diadora said nothing about the date being recorded. I didn’t tell him that. He might not like it.”

“You don’t need to bother Faron with tiny details. We’ll arrange everything. You go on a romantic dinner together and get to know each other. I’ll make sure the public sees the best side of your relationship.”

Kendra narrowed her eyes at Ivy. “We don’t have a relationship.”

“You do according to what we captured and according to public opinion. I’ve been running polls all day asking what they want to see. They want to see you date Faron. You can’t deny there was chemistry during the first date.”

“There was no chemistry.” Kendra crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, there was some biology. Faron wanted to know about my genetics. But he’s not interested in a relationship. I don’t want to spend any more time with him.”

“We’re asking for one evening,” Diadora said. “You are well-paid here.”

“And I work hard for that money,” Kendra said. “But my job description doesn’t include dating unfriendly, mean-spirited guys who only want to get my legs apart.”

Ivy snorted a laugh. “Maybe he just wants to be friends.”

“He doesn’t. You don’t ask a friend about their sexually transmitted infections.”

Diadora’s expression became serious. “I trust you don’t have any of those.”

Kendra’s cheeks flushed. “Of course not. But I don’t want to be cross-examined about that over dinner. How could the public see that as romantic?”

Ivy shrugged. “I’m a genius when it comes to publicity. They saw the fireworks between you two and want more. When you go on this date, you need to be sexed up and sultry. You need to get Faron’s blood boiling and his desire for you off the charts.”

“No way. That’s not happening. I agreed to this dinner, but I’m not turning into a sex kitten, so I get Faron drooling all over me, so you get a few cheap promo shots.”

“My promo shots never look cheap. And it will be great for business,” Ivy said.

“Agreed,” Diadora said. “You will do this.”

Kendra scowled at them both. This was happening. Unless she told Diadora to stick her job, she had to go on another date with Faron and make it look good.

“Excellent. I see we’re all in agreement.” Diadora turned to her port screen. “Let me know how it goes.”

Ivy jerked her head toward the door, and Kendra followed her, anger and resignation running through her as they left the office and walked along the corridor together.

“I can’t believe you set me up like this.”

“Relax, it won’t be that bad,” Ivy said. “If you take that sour look off your face, you might even have a good time.”

“I have a sour look on my face because I’ve been bullied into doing this.”

“Diadora can do a lot worse to you. She’s sending you on an all-expenses paid dinner with a hot guy. You should count yourself lucky.”

“Then you do it.”

Ivy laughed. “Not a chance. This rude, genetics-obsessed hottie is all yours.”

“I’ll do it, but I’m not playing up to the cameras, and I’m not waltzing into the restaurant looking like I’m an easy lay.”

“Fine, you don’t have to. The more I think about it, you need to be yourself. That’s what the audience likes. If you do anything else, it will look fake. Do what you did last time. Charm him, get him talking, and be yourself.”

Kendra huffed out an angry breath. “I can do that.”

“For some bizarre reason, the public laps it up. But make an effort with your hair and make-up.” Ivy waved a hand at Kendra. “I’d send you to a stylist, but we don’t have enough time to deal with this.”

Kendra glowered at Ivy before stomping away. She looked fine. She didn’t need a makeover.

She slowed as she rounded the corner and let out a sigh. It was one dinner, nothing more than that. And there would be no more kissing with Faron. That, she was sure of.

Her lips burned as she recalled their last kiss. How could one kiss affect her so badly? She hadn’t wanted it, yet when their lips had joined, all common sense had left her head. All she’d wanted to do was drown in that kiss. She’d wanted to press herself against that hard, muscular chest and forget everything, other than what she felt in that moment.

Kendra shook her head and grimaced. One dinner date. Nothing more. And no kissing.

***

KENDRA SMOOTHED HER hands down her hair as she walked into the restaurant. She was surprised by the nerves that fluttered in her stomach as she looked around to see if Faron was there.

She had nothing to be nervous about. This wasn’t a real date. This was a publicity stunt. So why had she felt like this since sending the dinner invitation to Faron last night?

When he’d messaged her to let her know he accepted, she’d almost fallen off her seat in surprise. Faron had made it clear he thought she wasn’t suitable company, but he’d still said yes.

A female server approached and smiled. “May I help you?”

“There should be a table reserved for me under the name of Kendra Hilton.”

The server looked at her port screen and nodded. “You’re in our private section this evening. It’s all been arranged. Please follow me. You’re the first to arrive.”

Kendra gritted her teeth. Great, now she appeared super eager to get there first and meet Faron.

She thanked the server as she settled in the private booth. It was at the back of the restaurant, away from everybody else. How romantic.

She checked her reflection in her compact and frowned. Despite being determined not to let Ivy’s words get to her, she’d spent more time than usual on her hair and even freshened her make-up. What was the point? Faron didn’t find her attractive. Yet, here she was, flapping about her appearance and worrying if her hair was too fluffy. She was making a fool of herself, and it was all for nothing.

Kendra grimaced as she spotted a camera bot near the door, obviously waiting for Faron’s arrival.

A wave of panic ran through her. What was she doing? She could leave, make out she was sick and couldn’t make the dinner. But Diadora wouldn’t let her get away with that. She’d insisted she go on this wretched date, all in the name of publicizing My Single Alien. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and see this out.

Kendra’s heart beat sped up as she noticed the camera bot swivel toward the entrance of the restaurant. It must have spotted Faron.

Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. What was he wearing? His chestnut-brown skin was exposed and gleamed under the lights of the restaurant. He wore nothing on his top half. His feet were bare and his solid thigh muscles exposed. All he wore on his bottom half was a thong. A tight, tiny thong that left nothing to the imagination.

Kendra swallowed as her gaze raked over Faron. What had she gotten herself into?